Special Report: Anatomy of a Phuket taxi driver

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Special Report: Anatomy of a Phuket taxi driver
Phuket Gazette


Legally registering a car has been cited as the most difficult hurdle to becoming a legal taxi driver. Photo: Chutharat Plerin

Special Report

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has opened an 'Organized Crime Center' [sic] at Phuket International Airport to crack down on illegal taxi drivers still operating there. The move follows widespread allegations of mafia operating on the island and illegal taxi drivers overcharging tourists. Here, the Phuket Gazette investigates what it takes to become a Phuket taxi driver.

PHUKET: -- There are currently 2,110 taxis legally registered to operate in Phuket; 129 of those are metered taxis. However, almost 1,000 more drivers continue to work illegally on the island, gleaning profit from freshly arrived tourists, often through outright gouging.

During the crackdown earlier this year, the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) identified 2,882 illegal taxis in Phuket. The crackdown inspired a further 1,981 taxi drivers to apply to have their vehicles registered.

“The PLTO is currently processing those applications,” explained PLTO officer Jaturong Kaewkasi.

However, that means at least 900 taxi drivers are operating without having made any attempt to become legal (story here).

“This is despite us granting them amnesty and helping them by negotiating with finance companies, banks and insurance companies to reduce the costs of re-registering their vehicles as private taxis in order to become legal drivers,” Mr Jaturong said.

Although the amnesty ended on April 30, drivers can still apply to register their vehicles as taxis and apply for their taxi drivers’ licenses, he added.

Along with the carrot came the stick. On May 1, police and PLTO officers were called upon to fine all drivers caught for “illegally operating a vehicle as a taxi”. The fine levied was the flat maximum 2,000 baht for each infringement.

The enforcement enjoyed limited success. Phuket Provincial Police confirmed to the Gazette that across the island 170 drivers were each fined 2,000 baht in April for not applying to register their vehicles as taxis, while their counterparts who were still illegally operating taxis but who had applied to become legal, were let free.

A further 246 drivers were fined in May, and another 224 in June.

However, the penalty is no stiffer for repeat offenders. “We do not have stronger penalties for drivers who repeatedly break the law. So far, the fine is 2,000 baht every time they are caught,” Mr Jaturong said.

THE CARS

Regardless of whether a taxi is fitted with a meter or not, the engine size must not be less than 1600cc. “It doesn’t matter which make or model of car it is, and there is no restriction on the maximum size of the engine,” Mr Jaturong explained.

The vehicle cannot be more than two years old at the time it is registered as a taxi, and cannot be used as a taxi after the vehicle turns nine years old from the date the car was first registered, he added.

Furthermore, there is no such thing as an independent taxi driver in Phuket. The car must be registered as working for a legally registered organization.

“This is a nationwide regulation so that the driver of each taxi can be identified and reached in case he does something wrong,” Mr Jaturong explained.

“The person registering the taxi must provide evidence that he works for a formal organization. He can provide a signed agreement proving he works as part of a taxi co-operative, or an employment contract showing he works for a tourism business, such as a tour kiosk, or for some other form of legal entity,” he added.

Regardless, so-called “taxi groups” are not held accountable for their members’ actions, even if their members consistently break the law.

“If their drivers are involved in a crime, charges will be pressed against the driver, not the group,” Mr Jaturong said.

“If there are complaints against a driver, the group will resolve the issue themselves. They have their own rules to punish drivers, such as suspending the drivers from work. The number of days’ suspension – and hence lost income – will depend on what the drivers have done wrong,” he assured.

THE DRIVERS

In order to carry passengers in a taxi, drivers must be Thai nationals, as ferrying passengers is a job prohibited to foreigners under the Alien Workers Act.

They must hold a commercial driver’s license, be at least 22 years old and also hold a valid standard driver’s license issued for five years.

Applicants must provide a medical certificate affirming they are free from leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug addiction and alcoholism.

And they must pass a test which takes place over a two-day period at the PLTO, during which applicants receive training in traffic law, basic English language, polite manners and common courtesy, Mr Konlayut said.

They also undergo an eyesight and reflex test.

As part of the process, police conduct a background check.

“Any applicants found to have served jail time for any crime will be rejected,” Mr Konlayut assured.

“However, repeat offenders, even for traffic offenses such as reckless driving, will be issued a license to drive a taxi in Phuket so long as they have not served a day in prison,” he added.

Once issued their license, on its large yellow card, the drivers must have it on display at all times while driving the taxi.

THE INSURANCE

Every vehicle being registered as a taxi must first have at least basic commercial insurance coverage, as stipulated by the national Office of Insurance Commission, before the PLTO will process its application.

The high cost of commercial insurance has been an ongoing point of dispute among many illegal taxi drivers in Phuket, who claim they cannot afford the rates.

To make insurance coverage more affordable, the PLTO directly engaged in negotiations with finance companies, banks and insurance companies on behalf of the drivers. The result, after months of talks, was base policies starting at about 30,000 baht per annum.

“We know it can be expensive, but we have done the best we can – and this is a mandatory requirement for a vehicle to be registered as a taxi,” Mr Jaturong confirmed.

Yet Patong Police Traffic Inspector Ekkarat Plaiduang confirmed to the Gazette that his officers would not pursue charges against any driver found driving without the required insurance.

“Instead, we will report it to the insurance company and let them decide whether they want to file a complaint,’ Maj Ekkarat explained.

“If they do, we will charge not the driver. but the owner of the car with providing false information on an official document. The penalty for that is a fine of up to 60,000 baht or up to three years in prison, or both,” he said.

Maj Ekkarat did not elaborate on what action police would take in case passengers, including tourists, are injured in an accident involving a taxi with inadequate insurance coverage.

THE AIRPORT

The ultimate goal of nearly every taxi driver on the island is to serve Phuket International Airport, which Chanchai Doungjit, chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, last month reported was the primary tourist gateway on an island that attracts about 11 million visitors per year.

Tourists pump an estimated 200 billion baht into the local economy, said Mr Chanchai. The consequence is that, for many taxi drivers in Phuket, the airport represents an easy avenue to hard cash.

To legally serve the airport, however, drivers must work for one of the taxi co-operatives that have signed a concession with the facility’s operator, Airports of Thailand (AoT).

Prakob Panyawai, managing director of Phuket Airport Limousine and Business Cooperative Ltd (PBC), explained that all cars serving the airport must be of a higher standard than regular taxis and the drivers must adhere to a dress and behavior code.

And drivers must pay the concession holders they work for, who in turn pay the AoT. Which concession they work for can affect their monthly take-home pay.

For example, Phuket Mai Khao Co, which operates 175 taxis and vans at the airport, must pay the AoT 1.3 million baht a month – requiring each driver to pay nearly 7,500 baht each month in dues. PBC, which operates 271 vehicles at the airport, owes the AoT 1.6mn baht a month – requiring each driver to pay about 5,900 baht a month.

Mr Prakob maintains that his drivers take home between 15,000 to 20,000 baht per month.

“They have to make payments on their own cars or pay a rental fee to use one of our fleet cars. Drivers who have only recently joined us also have to pay a 10,000 baht deposit against possible damage to the car they are driving,” he added.

“But the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home,” he said.

Additional Reporting by Irfarn Jumdukor

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Special-Report-Anatomy-of-a-Phuket-taxi-driver-21912.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-12

[CrisRMenumate]

“But the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home,” Means, the faster and more dangerously they drive from Point A to Point B and back again means the more money they can earn? Or did I misinterpret?

[NamKangMan]

Once again, no "meters" and not allowed to pick up and drop off passengers along the coast road, between the beaches.

It will not matter how many illegal taxis are fined, until this issue is addressed, Phuket can not progress, and will continue to lose what little of it's high spending traditional market it still has.

Edited August 12, 2013 by NamKangMan

[stevenl]

“But the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home,” Means, the faster and more dangerously they drive from Point A to Point B and back again means the more money they can earn? Or did I misinterpret?

Isn't that worldwide the same? The more fares they pickup the more they make.

[Soupdragon]

That picture in no way represents your average Phuket taxi driver, he is upright

[harrry]

So the police will not take action over insurance. Probably the most important of the requirements.

[steelepulse]

>>To legally serve the airport, however, drivers must work for one of the taxi co-operatives that have signed a concession with the facility’s operator, Airports of Thailand (AoT).

Unless you're one of the black taxis scoffing at the airport authorities.

>> and the drivers must adhere to a dress and behavior code.

In regards to behaviour code, does that mean being rude and surly?

[Pomthai]

Posted with a Toyota Tiger or Sport Cruiser which has to be at least nine years old since manufacture ceased in 2004.

[LivinginKata]

That picture in no way represents your average Phuket taxi driver, he is upright

I was thinking much the same thing. Most of them are scruffy angry looking young men with a banger which must have a leaking muffler.

[dudu]

“But the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home,” Means, the faster and more dangerously they drive from Point A to Point B and back again means the more money they can earn? Or did I misinterpret?

Isn't that worldwide the same? The more fares they pickup the more they make.

Yes,but they stick to a speed limit of sort.

[stevenl]

“But the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home,” Means, the faster and more dangerously they drive from Point A to Point B and back again means the more money they can earn? Or did I misinterpret?

Isn't that worldwide the same? The more fares they pickup the more they make.

Yes,but they stick to a speed limit of sort.

That's a different issue, that of police enforcing the laws. It is very easy to misinterpret a very innocent comment, as was done here. Mr. Prakob simply said: work hard, for taxi's that means run more fares, and you earn more money.

[SOTIRIOS]

....I recently met a cab driver in BKK that told me he has 3 cars...3 houses......and usually made 6 figures....A DAY..

...with tourists, westerners....no meter....and commissions from shops he takes them to.....

[catweazle]

I couln't resist... 20 minutes of my free "mother's day" well invested.

Click to enlarge and have fun

Edited August 12, 2013 by catweazle

[oxo1947]

CTRL + Q to Enable/Disable GoPhoto.it

CTRL + Q to Enable/Disable GoPhoto.it

So How are we suppose to test that he has "Razor Sharp Reflexes" Drop a 1,000 baht note to see if he gets it before it hits the ground.----Or he doesn't bother because he has "Outstanding Vision" and can see that it is a fake.

[Guest]

Please send that picture to Phuket Gazette

[andreandre]

I couln't resist... 20 minutes of my free "mother's day" well invested - click to enlarge

tuktuk_anatomy1.jpg

The second down on the left is relevant to a poster on this forum..

"At least 8 years old or older and payed for by a sympathetic ''farang''...

[catweazle]

I couln't resist... 20 minutes of my free "mother's day" well invested - click to enlarge

tuktuk_anatomy1.jpg

The second down on the left is relevant to a poster on this forum..

"At least 8 years old or older and payed for by a sympathetic ''farang''...

I'm happy that I could be of help

[chuenyongman]

That picture in no way represents your average Phuket taxi driver, he is upright

Do you mean when he is standing?

[smotherb]

“But the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home,” Means, the faster and more dangerously they drive from Point A to Point B and back again means the more money they can earn? Or did I misinterpret?

Is driving a taxi any different--"the harder they work, the more they earn, and the more they get to take home"--any place else?

[smotherb]

I am quite disappointed, with the title of this article, I thought we were going to get to dissect a taxi driver.

[marell]

....I recently met a cab driver in BKK that told me he has 3 cars...3 houses......and usually made 6 figures....A DAY..

...with tourists, westerners....no meter....and commissions from shops he takes them to.....

I find that extremely hard impossible to believe. He's BS-ing you.

[harrry]

....I recently met a cab driver in BKK that told me he has 3 cars...3 houses......and usually made 6 figures....A DAY..

...with tourists, westerners....no meter....and commissions from shops he takes them to.....

I find that extremely hard impossible to believe. He's BS-ing you.

My Brother in law drives a taxi in Bangkok he averages just over 1000 a day after expenses and he owns his own car and works long long hours.

[catweazle]

....I recently met a cab driver in BKK that told me he has 3 cars...3 houses......and usually made 6 figures....A DAY..

...with tourists, westerners....no meter....and commissions from shops he takes them to.....

Perhaps your ears weren't ok that day and all your taxi driver was saying is that he was an artist and that he sculpts about 6 figurines a day

It is kinda heart-warming to see that there are still forum members out there who believe in good old Santa - don't stop believing...

[CiaranO]

Just more rubbish articles from PG as usual - th minute i read "dress code and behavior" i stopped taking the article seriously.

[belg]

if they want to spend so much money on infrastructin

why not start with a train from the airport to all parts of the island ?

all tuk tuk & taxi drivers, legal or illegal are offered to come work for the construction

will take at least 10 to 20 years to complete

[eezergood]

I cant stand this rubbish anymore!